2018 Buick LaCrosse: A Trim Comparison

The Buick LaCrosse is a full-size premium sedan that comes in two- or four-wheel drive and has five trims.

The tricky part is, not every trim level is a meaningful improvement upon the previous. After this detailed overview, you’ll be able to determine which 2018 Buick LaCrosse is perfect for your drive. One thing to note going in—Buick adds a $925 destination charge to special orders. That's not included in the MSRP we list here. But if you try to order online, it will be a factor.

LaCrosse (1SV)

The 2018 Buick LaCrosse basic trim is anything but basic and includes plenty of standard features for just $29,565. Some of the highlights of the LaCrosse trim include HID headlamps, 3 months of OnStar Guidance Plan with 4G LTE and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, and rear park assist. The StabiliTrak electronic stability control system is only available as an option, however.

This sedan is equipped with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with eAssist, a very small electric battery that helps with fuel economy. The entire vehicle sits on 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The base LaCrosse trim also includes LED daytime running lamps, front fog lamps, laminated front-side and windshield acoustic glass, and power-adjustable manual-folding heated outside mirrors with turn signal indicators.

The interior of the LaCrosse showcases Buick’s commitment to luxury with an eight-speaker audio system and eight-way power front seats. The infotainment system also includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities. You can easily hear radio thanks to QuietTuning, a combination of acoustic design and active noise cancellation that minimizes unwanted sound in the cabin.

The airbag system includes a sensor to detect when passengers are occupying a seat, but that isn’t the only safety system installed. The LaCrosse also has a rear vision camera, rear park assist, a tire pressure monitoring system, teen driver settings, and a remote vehicle starter system.

Preferred

The LaCrosse Preferred is the first trim upgrade from the base model and starts at $33,670. The price hike is quite high, and it's a little difficult to see why the MSRP is much higher when compared to the base trim. On the exterior, the vehicle sits on the same 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The interior does have a few upgrades. You now get a cargo net, power tilt and telescopic steering column, and a three-month SiriusXM Radio trial. Apart from a couple of add-on options that you have to pay extra for, there’s not really a whole lot here.

Essence

The LaCrosse Essence has a starting MSRP of $36,370. It definitely seems to be a better option for someone looking for more than what the base model. The interior now includes leather-appointed seating, heated front seats, memory settings for two drivers, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and wireless charging for your devices. Overall, these features can definitely improve the daily drive to work.

Premium

The LaCrosse Premium is the second most expensive with a starting MSRP of $38,670. Buyers will notice that the trim features the Driver Confidence Package #1 standard. This includes rear cross-traffic alerts, side blind zone notifications with lane change alerts, and a head-up display. For added safety, there is also a following distance indicator. A more comfortable interior features a heated steering wheel, front row massage control seats with lumbar control, and ventilated driver and passenger front seats.

Avenir

The 2018 Buick LaCrosse is the first sedan to feature Buick's new top-of-the-line Avenir trim. Think of this specialty option as akin to GMC's Denali trim. The branding first appeared on the 2018 Enclave, but the LaCrosse is the first Sedan from Buick to carry the nameplate. What do buyers get when they fork out the MSRP of $44,870? The LaCrosse Avenir features a unique upper and lower mesh grille and wood-toned interior trim. It also comes with a Buick infotainment system with navigation, and a Bose Centerpoint surround sound speaker system.